I spent a few days in Seoul, and over the first 2 days in the city, with the weather clear and sunny, I set out to complete the Seoul City Walls hiking route. My start point was Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun), the restored big east gate of the city walls.

Walking in an anticlockwise direction, its amazing how quickly you get away from the city and start climbing over the mountains. This photo was from the northern section heading over Cheongundae, after Sukjeongmun Gate.

It was a lot of steps and climbing both up and down over this section, but very rewarding with great views. I decended to Changuimun Gate, for a rest and much needed lunch stop after having done several kilometers with plenty of climbing.

The reminder of the route on the first day then involved more climbing on the western section of the route, up and over Inwangsan peak. Before another descent following the restored walls to the location of where the West Gate once stood, near Seodaemun metro station. The first day northern section of the hike was 12.7km, elevation gain of 1100m, walked in approximately 3 and a half hours.

Day 2 I took the metro back across the city, to resume along the route, from the west side heading south. The route heads up and across Namsam mountain park. With a good view across the city from Namsam Tower.

The weather was not quite as nice this second day, with some rain coming down as I reached the eastern side of the route again.

I got back to Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun) as it really started to rain more, but was glad to have finished the Seoul city walls hike. The second day was nearly 10km with 670m elevation gain. This could be combined as one long day hike, however I’m glad I broke the route over 2 days, to take it in and have some stops along the way.